Ondo State Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared zero tolerance for anti-party activities in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dismissing falsehoods being spread against him by some elements, the Governor declared that he has not asked any candidate to contest in any other party, charging the 18 local government and 203 ward chairmen of the APC to mobilise the grassroots and deliver victory for the party in the forthcoming elections.
Governor Aiyedatiwa gave the charge on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting with APC local government and ward chairmen in Akure, describing them as critical components of the party’s structure and electoral machinery.
He stressed that elections are won at the polling units, which are located within the wards, placing a major responsibility on the ward chairmen to determine the party’s fortunes.
“Elections are won at the polling units. And the polling units are right there in the ward. And you are the ward chairmen. Very, very important. You are occupying a significant role in party structure,” he said.
The governor directed ward chairmen and secretaries to hold regular meetings and bring together party leaders in their respective wards to deliberate on party affairs and preparations for the elections.
He said mobilisation must be the major focus of such meetings, warning that it must not be accompanied by anti-party activities.
Dismissing allegations that he was involved in anti-party activities, the governor described his accusers as “naysayers, blackmailers and slanderers”.
“I have zero tolerance for anti-party. I have never engaged in anti-party in my life,” he declared.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said his political history reflects his commitment to the progressive fold, recalling that when the Labour Party was in government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was strong in the state, particularly in his senatorial district and local government, he chose to join the Alliance for Democracy (AD/ACN), despite the party being out of government.
The governor also recalled his political experience between 2010 and 2020, when he became deputy governor, as well as his experience during the 2019 primary election.
He said although he won the primary, the party leadership in Abuja overturned the result, insisting that the party leadership was supreme.
According to him, the experience reinforced the need for party members to respect the authority and decisions of the leadership.
He also cited instances in which he supported aspirants in line with decisions reached by party leaders after consultations, stressing the importance of discipline and loyalty.
The governor rejected allegations that his administration was sponsoring APC members to defect to the PDP and other parties.
“So, no to anti-party, that’s what I’m trying to say. Let’s support Mr President and all the candidates of our party,” he said.
Responding to commendations from party leaders, Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked them for their feedback on the government’s projects and programmes, describing the commendations as “very, very encouraging”.
He said the feedback would spur the administration to do more and fast-track ongoing projects for completion within record time.
In his welcome address, APC State Chairman, Hon Babatunde Kolawole, called for total loyalty to Governor Aiyedatiwa and the party, saying loyalty to the governor as the party’s leader is the right thing to do.
He urged the chairmen to support all APC candidates, saying the governor had directed the party to achieve 100 per cent support for its candidates.
Kolawole warned that anti-party activities would not be tolerated, saying the party had gathered intelligence on alleged acts of disloyalty and that those found culpable would face consequences at the appropriate time.
He expressed confidence that the APC would win from the presidential election through the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
The party chairman commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for activating the party’s organs, including the State Executive Committee, Caucus and Elders Council.
Kolawole also commended the governor for approving ward meetings to strengthen the party at the grassroots and for increasing the allowances of ward and local government chairmen by 100 per cent. He added that the state party executives also received an increment.
Speaking on behalf of the 18 local government chairmen, Oluwadare Fadumo commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for what he described as unprecedented support for the councils and their people.
He said the administration’s projects and empowerment programmes have impacted market women and youths, while the increased allowances for party chairmen has generated excitement.
“We want to thank you because this is the first time this is happening in the history of politics in Ondo State,” Fadumo said.